Rotary furnace.



No. 666,517. Patented Jan. 22,1901.

6. GRDLL.

ROTARY FURNACE.

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No. 666,5l7. Patentod Ian 22, 1901.

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WITNESSES.

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UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES GROLL, OF ROUBAIX, FRANCE.

ROTARY FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 666,517, dated January22, 1901.

Apnlication filed May 12, 1900. Serial No. 16,448. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES GRoLL, a citizen of the Republic of France,residing at Roubaix, in the department du Nord, in the Republic ofFrance, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Furnaces, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The improvements which form the object of the present invention relateto furnaces having a circular grate revolving around a vertical axis,and they are for the purpose of preventing the regular working oroperation of the said furnaces from being interfered with by fragmentsof coal which work in between the fixed and moving parts,notwithstanding the distortions to which the said parts are subjectedthrough the influence of the heat.

In order to secure a regular working of the rotary grate, I constructthe latter of a certain number of pieces so combined that theirrespective expansions do not modify the contour of that portion of theperiphery of the grate which forms the joint at the contact or nearly atthe contact of a ring fixed to the Walls of the hearth. For the samepurpose the parts of the said fixed crown forming a joint with the grateare composed of comparatively numerous pieces, the expansion of whichdoes not interfere with the working of the parts in contact or nearly incontact. Furthermore, the expansion of the whole of the said parts,whether fixed or moving, forming the joint between the grate and ring isvery much reduced and rendered uniform by the action of a current of airwhich is caused to circulate all around the periphery of the grate. Iuse for that purpose the Whole of the air necessary for combustion andcause the same to pass inside the fixed ring which surrounds the grate.With such particular arrangements of the parts those forming the jointat the periphery of the grate preserve their form or contour; but inorder that they shall not rub against each other it is still necessaryto prevent the pivot around which they revolve from changing its levelor its inclination under the influence of the expansion caused by theheat. For that purpose the pivot of the grate is mounted on a crosspiecefixed at one end to the ring, while the other end is capable oflongitudinal movement between guides. The result of this construction isthat the play left between the fixed and movable parts of the furnacemay be exceedingly small, so as to prevent the smallest fragments ofcoal coming between the said parts. Finally, in order to secure theregular working of the grate there must be further excluded all dangerof clogging by coaldust becoming lodged between the parts of the deviceswhich revolve the grate and the rollers on which it is supported. Forthat purpose I have devised an arrangement of trunnions having lateralabutments which prevent the entrance of coal-dust.

In the accompanying drawings, which show one form of my improved rotaryfurnace, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the furnace through the axialline of the same. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, partly on the line A Aof Fig. l, partly on the line B B, and partly on the line 0 G of thesame figure. Fig. 3 is a radial section of an air-chamber. Fig. 4 is aradial section of another air-chamber. Fig. 5 is a section, on the lineD D of Fig. 4, through one of the plates closing the top of theair-chamber. Figs. 4 and 5 are two vertical sections, respectively atright angles to each'other, of a cover-plate for the air-chamber. Fig. 6shows an arrangement of border-pieces for the grate. Fig. 7 is a partplan of a ring supporting the said border-pieces. Fig. 8 shows anotherarrangement of the border-pieces. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the innerface of inclined bars arranged around the grate. Fig. 10 is a section onthe line E E of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is the plan view of the border-pieceshown at the right side of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a part section of a grate-plate having bars fixed thereto.Fig. 13 is a plan view of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a section through agrate-plate having bars cast integral therewith. Fig. 15 is a radialsection of a roller. Fig. 16 is a radial section of theoperatingpulleys. Figs. 17 and 18 are respectively a vertical sectionand a plan of a device intended to maintain water in the fixed ring atconstantly the same level.

The furnace I desire to have patented comprises a fixed ring Ct, Figs. 1and 2, which is hollow to form an air-chamber and is covered bya seriesof plates band 0, below which revolves a frame carrying the grate,properly so called. The plates b are covered by the masonry of the wallsof the furnace, and the plates 0 constitute the threshold of thestoking-door d. The said frame is star-shaped, having radial arms e,centered by means of a fixed column f. The said radial arms rest on atoothed ring or rack g, which moves on rollers h. The rack g has mountedupon it a series of movable border-pieces i, the upper surfaces of whichareintended to revolve very near to and under the said plates 1) and 0,without, however, having to overcome the least friction.

The ash-pit j is closed, and the whole of the air necessary forcombustion penetrates into the ring a through two or more openings is,Fig. 2, of varied form and arrangement, according to the kind of draftrequired. Partitions m may be arranged in front of the said openings inorder to better distribute the air. It is from the said ring only thatthe air passes into the ash-pitj, as indicated by the arrow on Fig. l,cooling on its passage the fixed plates 1) and c and the revolvingborderpieces 1;.

The annular air-chamber a serves as a support for the plates 1) and 0.(See Figs. 3, 4, and 5.) The latter are also anchored by heel-pieces47., provided with notches engaging a circular tongue p, formed in theupper part of the inner wall of the said collector. The heel-pieces 'rtform a cooling-surface which is very large in proportion to the surfaceof the plates exposed to the fire, so that the air passing between thesaid heel-pieces and against the inner surfaces of the plates preventsthe temperature of the latter from rising.

The upper face of the plates 1) is provided with very thin ridges g,which reduce to a minimum the heat transmitted by the con tact with thebricks of the walls of the furnace.

The plates 0, which form the threshold of the furnace, are not coveredwith bricks. They are provided at the top with a series of grooveswhich,tilled with insulating material, prevent them from absorbing moreheat than can be taken up by the current of air within. The plates 0 ofthe threshold not being covered with masonry they may be held in placeby means of chains 1, keyed below the airchamber a, so that the saidplates can be very readily mounted.

The plates 1) and c are provided along their circumference with two ormore triangular projections s, so as to allow of adjusting the same verynear to the border 7 Without giving rise to any perceptible friction.

The plates 12 and c, which serve to close the top of the air-chamber,may each be made in two pieces, as shown by Figs. 4 and 5. The underpiece forms a frame 0 and carries the contactmaking surface having ribs8, intended to make a joint with the border-pieces of the grate. Theupper piece 0 is formed by a plate provided with radial ribs which arecooled by the air. In this manner the under plate or frame is notdirectly heat-ed, and the heat'transmitted to it by contact is carriedoff by the air passing along the surface. The rotary borders may beformed by frames vi, (see Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 11,) held in place by meansof the heel pieces a, which take into a hollow ring '0, located abovethe rack g. The said border can be easily and rapidly mounted by meansof vertical notches 1, provided in the rim of the said ring 1;, Fig. 7,which permit of lowering the borders into their place and of slidingthem one against the other in the interior of the ring Q). The heels u,of the border-pieces t are held by iron wires as, bearing upon theunder'surface of cross-pieces y of the ring a). Against the inner faceof the frames 1 abuts an annular flange formed by a series of smallindependent bars 2, variable in number, side by side and held in placeby heels 2 and iron wires 3, which pass through the lateral flanges 4 ofthe frames 7;. The openings 5 made in the heels 2 are extended in orderto allow the bars to expand freely. Under these conditions the frames2', which carry the surface of the joint 6, are not in direct contactwith the coal and hardly become heated at all. The air issuing from thewhole of the inner periphery of the ring Ct impinges directly againstthe assembled border-pieces, passes through the same, and cools fullyboth the frames 1' and the bars 2.

The ring 1) may be dispensed with, (see Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11,) and theheels u may take into suitable housings in the panels 7 of the grateplaced at the periphery of the same. In this case the frames 1' arestill held in the panels by means of aniron wire at, passing throughtheir heels u. The bars 2 have then the supporting-heel 2 at the lowerpart, and they expand upward. I

The hub 8 on the star-shaped frame 6 comprises a bored socket rotatableabout a column f, Fig. l. The latter is fixed at the bot.- tom to across-piece 11, on which it can be adjusted in any direction. Thecross-piece 11, Fig. 2, is bolted at one end to the airchamber a, and atthe other end it is held, with but little or no play, between supports12, which leave it free to slide longitudinally in order that itsexpansion lengthwise shall not disturb the working of the furnace.

Fixed to the hub 8 of the star-shaped frame 6 is a concentric ring 13,centered and provided with all the heels 14 necessary to sup port theseveral arms 15., intended to receive the grate, properly so called. Thearms 15 are anchored at an equal distance from the center on the saidheels, and their expansion is free at their outer end, which rests onheels 16, cast integral either with the rack g, Figs. 2 and 8, or withthe ring 11, Fig. 6.

The grate, properly so called, may be formed in different ways. Thatshown in Figs. 12, 13, and 14 is formed by a series of panels or plates7, the bars of which are either cast together in one piece with theirframe, Fig. 1 1, or fixed to the same and held in place in their frameby rods 17, Figs. 12 and 13, located underneath. In order to prevent thesaid panels or plates from moving, they are provided with heels 18,which fix them, two by two, in notches 19 in the said arms 15 in such amanner that by being mutually supported in the direction of the heelstheir expansion is free in the other direction. The result of theabove-described manner in which the arms 15 are fixed on the ring 13 isthat the corresponding notches 19 lie at exactly equal distances fromthe center and that the distances between the several elements of thegrate can remain absolutely the same or uniform.

The rack g revolves on a variable number of rollers 71, so protected asto make it impossible for any coal-dust to get between the parts incont-act. For that purpose the laterally-abutting surfaces of the saidroller are inclosed. The fixed pin 20 ofaroller, Fig. 15, has a flange21, against each side of which are pressed rings 22,fixed the one in thebody part of the roller 72. and the otherin its cap 23. The sideopposite to the cap is closed by two washers 24 and 25, the former ofwhich is fixed and centered, with little or no play, on the pin 20 andcapable of following up the latter when the bearings become worn, andthe other washer 25 is placed, without play, against the former andrevolves with the roller, preventing any side movement which might allowcoal-dust to get in between the surfaces in contact.

The several pivots or studs of the parts which operate the rack may beconstructed and arranged in the same manner as described for the rollersh to prevent any abnormal wear on account of dust. For example, theloose pulley 26, Fig. 1b, is mounted on a stud 27, having a flange 21,and fixed to a rigid support 28. A sleeve 29, having a flange 21,intended to receive the fixed pulley 30, is capable of revolving freelyon the spindle 27 and is retained between the loose pulley and thesupport 28. This arrangement of sleeve with its flange or collar allowsof having inner abutments for the two pulleys and provides at the sametime a very simple mounting of the devices. The rack g is operated by apinion 31, supported from the air-chamber a by means of the support 32,Figs. 1 and 2. The remainder of the operating parts are located outsidethe furnace and are supported.

from the front 33, which may be thrust out or in, on account of themasonry moving, but without causing any inconvenience, because thestraight teeth of the pinions 31 and 34 are capable of slidinglongitudinally.

In order to mix the gases of combustion, inletopenings 35 are providedabove the grate, the said openings being located between the plates 1)and the plates 0, their number and size varying according to the size ofthe furnace and the intensity of the draft used.

The distribution of the air in the mass of gases is thus rendered veryuniform.

The air-chamber a may be provided against its inner wall with a circularchannel 36, into .which extend the heels of the plates Z) and c.

The said channel being filled with water, the steam given off is carriedalong by the current of air and cools the grate. In order to make thiscooling and preserving effect as energetic as possible, the water in thechannel 36 should be kept at a constant level by means, for example, ofthe device shown in Figs. 17 and 18. Into the said device, located atthe outside of the furnace, runs a continuous current of water through apipe 37. A part of the said water passes into the channel 36 through apipe 38, and the remainder runs over through a pipe 39 into the ash-pitand serves to extinguish the cinders falling into the same.

I claim 1. In a furnace, a'stationary annular casing forming anair-chamber, said casing being closed at the bottom and open'at the topupon its inner periphery, a rotary grate held to move adjacent. to saidair-casing and having its fuel-carrying surface located at a lower levelthan the opening of the air-casing, and an annular flange extendingupward from the periphery of the fuel-supporting surface to a pointadjacent to the opening of the air-casing, to guide the air under thegrate.

2. In afurnace, a stationary annular casing forming an air-chamber, saidcasing being closed at the bottom and open at the top upon its innerperiphery, a rotary grate held to move adjacent to said air-casing andhaving its fuel-carrying surface located at a. lower level than theopening of the air-casing, a border-flange rising at the periphery ofthe grate, and a supplementary flange resting on said border-flange andhaving an inclined innersurface flaring upwardly.

3. In a furnace, a stationary annular casing forming an air-chamber,said casing being closed at the bottom and open at the top and upon itsinner periphery, a stationary horizontal cover extending over the opentop of the casing and provided with apertures at intervals, to allowpart of the air to escape upward, a rotary grate held to move adjacentto said air-casing, and means for directing the air issuing from theair-chamber under the rotary grate.

4. In a furnace, a rotary grate and supporting devices therefor, eachsupporting device comprising a stud provided with a flange or collar, agrate supporting roller loosely mounted upon said stud, rings or sleevesarranged between the roller and the stud on opposite sides of the saidflange, a cap secured to one end of the roller and covering the free endof the stud, and washers secured to the other end of the roller andengaging the stud.

5. In a furnace, a stationary annular casing forming an air-chamber,said casing being closed at the bottom and open at the top upon itsinner periphery, an annular water-trough 1 ing over the top of thecasing and projecting Within the upper portion of said casing and solocated that the air passes over the surface of the Water contained inthe trough before issuing from the casing, and a rotary grate held tomove adjacent to said air-casing;

6. In a furnace, a stationary annular casing forming an air-chamber,said casing being closed at the bottom and open at the top upon itsinner periphery, an annular trough located within the upper portion ofsaid casing and so located that the air passes over the surface of thewater contained in the trough before issuing from the casing, a topplate or cover for said casing, provided with projections dipping intosaid trough, and a rotary grate held to move adjacent to the air-casing.

7. In a furnace, the combination of a rotary grate, a stationary annularplate surround ing the same, and disposed in close relation thereto, anda stationary air-casing having its outlet arranged immediately adjacentto the meeting edges of said grate and plate, to discharge air directlyagainst said meeting edges.

8. In afurnace, a stationary annular easing forming an air-chamber, saidcasing having an air-inlet and being provided with an open top and withan air-outlet upon its inner pe riphery at the top, a stationary coverextendinwardly beyond the same, and a rotary grate having a portionprojected into the proximity of said cover and adjacent to theair-outlet of the casing, the air-outlet being so located as todischarge the air directly against the meeting edges of the grate andcover.

9. In a furnace, a stationary annular casing forming an air-chamber,said casing having an air-inlet and being provided With an open top andwith an air-outlet upon its inner pe-' riphery at the top, a stationarycover extending over the top of the casing and projecting inwardlybeyond the same, said cover consisting of a substantially horizontallower sec tion and a refractory upper section, and a rotary grate havinga portion projected into the proximity of the lower section of the coverand adjacent to the air-outlet of the casing, the air-outlet being solocated as to discharge the air directly against the meeting edges ofthe grateand cover. I

Signed at Roubaix, France, this 26th day of April, 1900.

CHARLES GROLL.

Witnesses:

J. KONING, ALFRED C. HARRISON.

